What if a modern Maytag wringer appeared on the market?

[thomasortega]

Guys, I have a question for you. just a quick research.

What if an american company decides to launch a new washer that looks almost like a Maytag wringer?

Details:

Round body
All made of plastic, to be lightweight and because it would be absurdly expensive to have a metal body and shipping would be absurd.
No wringer (because of horror stories from the past and "millenials that would intentionally cause accidents only to sue the company)
No spin cycle. (it only washes, no spin at all)
White body*
Turquoise agitator
4 large straight vanes, very simple design
slow and long stokes
casters
Drain Pump
Automatic fill with pressure switch and two water levels.
automatic cycle (fills, agitate wash, drains, fills 1st rinse, agitates, drain, fills 2nd rinse, agitates, drain, off.
drum light (LED hidden under the control panel)
Lighted controls (LED under the graphic membrane)
Allows using super hot water and whatever amounts of bleach without affecting the components.

Many other details to make it look like a vintage washer

*option: Pink body
A sticker on the front (Lucida Handwriting) "Semi-Automatic Washer"
And the most important: >>>>> NOT MADE IN CHINA <<<<<

Average price: $200 including shipping.

How interesting it would be?

 

[tolivac]

What use is a washer that can't spin or wring the load?And its PLASTIC to seal the deal!!Wouldn't buy.USELESS!

 

[combo52]

New Plastic Washer?

Interesting, But it sounds pretty useless.

 

Keep in mind that a porcelain coated steel tub may be cheaper to build than plastic and is very little heaver.

 

A long stroke agitation is much harder on clothing than a shorter faster stroke, especially with a regular agitator with big fins.

 

[lowflow]

No. He's got a point. Very retro for the right home. And cool looking.

Spin cycle would be a requirement (millenials would be lost with wet laundry and the rest of us would be inconvenienced).

A washer at that price point would sell, spin cycle or not, though it would be a pain to dry.

That said, Energy star it wouldn't be. (I would think)

 

[yoblount]

How large?

How large would said machine be? Full size or compact?
If compact, I think there would be too much competition with compact and ultra compact twin tubs. No spin dryer would be a deal breaker for me.

If offered in full capacity then one would also need to consider the purchase price of a full size spin dryer. Those are not cheap.

Personally, I do not believe such a machine would sell very well.

 

[dustin92]

I also think a spin cycle would be a requirement, no one is going to buy a full size washer that doesn't spin the clothes out. What about an all plastic machine that fills, does a timed wash, signals the end of the wash, is then drained and shifted manually into a spin cycle, shifted back into agitate mode etc. Clear locking lid for safety during the spin cycle. Again, $200 or less price point. Semi automatic that will do anything an automatic washer will.

 

[ea56]

Why not just put a freakin wringer on it? Without some way to extract the water from the clothing this machine would be useless. I personally think that there would be a market for a revival of the traditional wringer washer, albeit small. When Lehmans was still selling the Home Queen wringer washer that was a Speed Queen spin off made in Saudi Arabia they seemed to find a market for them, even though they didn't have a pump, which would also be essential. And I have to agree with Tom, using plastic instead of porcelain enamel would be a false economy. Do it right, or just don't bother.
Eddie

 

[thomasortega]

Guys, the problem is that I'm thinking about using a washer that already exists in Brazil (Mueller Plus)

Whatever changes that involves "design", also involves molding costs (molds are absurdly expensive) and we would have to change the production line too much.

All the changes I planned were ina way that no different molds will be needed.

Every gram counts when the product is sold only online and 100% of the units are shipped by FedEx or UPS. a porcelain tub would add several lbs to the washer. Nobody would buy it knowing that the shipping cost is almost $300.

Also, make it with porcelain would require presses, an oven (we don't have it in our plant, the oven was demolished 30 years ago).

The capacity will be "modern" full size (almost twice than a Maytag Wringer)

Yes, we sell spin dryers and we already have a matching spin dryer for it (Nina Soft, make it with the same design and color scheme)

The appeal i'm thinking is design (vintage look), cleaning power (it really cleans even the nastiest clothes) and more than decent rinses (no it will not be high efficiency)

Also, if we make it spin it would be a fully automatic washer then we would have to follow the Eco-nazi rules (make it high efficiency, impeller instead of an agitator, 2 tablespoons of water for rinsing), plus all the costs... (I would have to design a whole new washer from scratch).

A huge problem we have nowadays is the competition with chinese crap. Competitors already have those twin tubs for $49 free shipping. (but luckily people are discovering those mini TTs are crap.
We have a mini washer, no spin dryer, made in our plant in China. I designed it from scratch and it is good (at least reliable). But we're almost selling it for less than the cost, because "millenials" don't care about quality, they just want to pay cheap, cheap and cheap.

Some people even email me asking if we can make a version without the "15-minute kitchen timer" to make it cheaper. Then i mention the motor is made in USA, the plastic is DuPont made in USA and the washer is just assembled in China they ask "well if you made it in china it would be cheaper and it would be better for my wallet"

I mention about the 3-year unlimited warranty (we don't fix the products, if it fails, we will ship a brand new unit for free) then people ask if we can give a discount if they buy without the warranty.

This new washer i'm thinking about giving a 6-year unlimited warranty. Because I know it is made to last at least 20 years and the breakage rate is lower than 1%

And before you ask, the plastic is really thick, thicker than a Rubbermaid trash dumpster.

 

[thomasortega]

"Why not just put a freakin wringer on it?"

Because nowadays people have personal trainers and personal lawyers.

One would see the wringer and immediately think "hummm i can buy this washer and have an accident with it, break one or two fingers and sue the company in a few millions. Easy money!"

 

[ea56]

Thomas, I think you have some interesting ideas and when I read your last post I can really see that your idea may have a real place in less developed areas. If you use really heavy weight plastic this could work out well, but I do think it would be essential to market this washer with the option to purchase a companion spin drier, or a manual wringer for the more cost conscious, but you do need to provide some way to extract the water. After reconsidering your idea I think you could be on to something.
Good luck with your endeavor!
Eddie

 

[thomasortega]

recently we had to pay for a broken nail...
the user put the hand in the tub and touched the impeller (Miniwash) with the washer running and had a broken NAIL!

A week later we had a lawyer knocking at our door.

The judge understood it's quite stupid to do that and we didn't have to pay anything. but you know... its a "Millenials" world, we don't want to take the risk.

 

[earthling177]

I suppose at that point one might put a hybrid between the manual wringer that the stereotypical Hoover washer had and the powered wringers that Maytag and others had: make the wringer with the springs that release super quick if a person's fingers or something else is in there, but don't make them powered by the motor, the person has to hand crank it.

It would be hard to explain to the judge *why* the person cranking the wringer decided it was a good idea to do so, when someone else's finger(s)/hair (or their own) was caught. But I won't place bets, 'cuz someone might do that anyway.

Anyway, my vote is that it's too annoying to remove stuff from a wringer washer without wringing it, water everywhere and American homes are not designed to just direct the water on the floor to a drain unless you are in the basement. I think that's why twin-tubs were so popular, moving the clothes from the wash to the spinner was easier and less messy than from a washer to a separate spin dryer.

The other thing I like about twin-tubs is that one can *rinse* in the spinner (and I like the spinners that let me do whatever I want, spray rinse or fill the spinner with water then spin).

The twin tubs from China are getting better, I like the Panda (I think is the brand) thing (11 lbs wash, 6 lbs spin) I got to play with. It would be even better if it let me spin the full 11 lbs load. Or even better, if it had a 16 pound wash and spin capacity.

Cheers,
-- Paulo.

 

[thomasortega]

The matchin spin dryer is a "big ass" spin dryer and can spin the load all at once. Just place it next to the washer.

Ok, you will need to squeeze the clothes manually after the cycle is done, or wait something around 5 minutes to let the clothes drip enough to be removed from the washer without making a huge mess. In both cases there will be no more than a few drops on the floor.

 

[thomasortega]

maing a wringer involves dealing with metal parts.... we don't have a press available to "stamp" metal parts.

Also, to connect the wringer in the washer it would need to change molds... Cost speaks louder... it's actually screaming.

A tub mold (it is tub, feet, motor compartment, 90% of the washer) costs something around 100k dollars. it is absurd to discard a mold that already exists only because of a minimal design change.

Shipping also counts. We're on the limit. if we could touch the molds, I'd make the washer legs 1 inch sorter to save something around $15 per unit shipped. because of a silly inch, the box dimensions puts the shipment on a different tier.

 

[washman]

Nix on the plastic

plastic is for toys.

 

What about the electric motor to run it? Would it be USA made? Would it be Union made? Would it have bearings that could be lubricated?

 

Or would it be made in a right-to-work-for-less-state?

 

The agitation stroke would need to be 225 degrees, in fact  you could call it the "deuce and a quarter" agitation stroke!

 

Think of the marketing advantages!

By jove, this may well get off the ground!

 

[launderess]

Wringer idea is dead, no go, forget it, won't happen, zip, nil, nada, move on.

In the USA at least the liability issue would cause few to risk even distribution, much less manufacture and sales. First time anyone (especially if a child) was harmed the wounded and or his guardians would get all lawyered up, and it would be off to the races.

Leaving aside the liability issue you'd have to find another substance for the wringer rollers instead of rubber. Petrol and or chemicals derived from same will attack rubber. In the heyday of wringers, mangles and conventional washing machines soap was still king of laundry day. In later years Maytag and others that continued with wringer washers into the 1950's and 1960's must have found something else to make the rollers from (that wouldn't be harmed by detergents), and or ways to lessen the potential damage.

Probably the best system for this new design is one already thought of by Unimac; a twin tub washer/extractor. This or simply selling the units separate; washer and extractor.

Cannot speak for outside of the USA but American housewives and pretty much everyone else that does laundry have largely rejected any sort of semi-automatic washing machines. Those that do and or remain supply a niche market that likely won't grow very much. If California's drought kept on for a few more years that could have sparked large scale interest in semi-automatics out of concerns for water savings; but they've got plenty of water out there now.

 

[thomasortega]

The motor won't be USA made, but Brazilian WEG (among the best motor brands in the world) not those "citrus press" motors made in China. (also strong as hell)

The transmission is old school metal, same design used for over 60 years in Brazil and that darn thing lasts forever.

The agitation strokes are slow and long. have I heard anybody saying 225° it rang a bell on my memories... (Probably the engineer that designed the first version of this washer got some "Ctrl C ctrl V" from American wringers.

In fact, when the "Mueller Pioneira", the very first mueller (still made of wood) was created 60 something years ago, it was "Ctrl C Ctrl V inspired" on a Miele washer.

Due to environmental laws in Brazil, they stopped making it of wood (only in 2001). A fiberglass version was created in 1978 but the people wanted the original wood body. the fiberglass version started to sell ok only after they stopped making the wood ones.
When they were forced to stop making them using wood, there were protests in front of the factory. People still wanted the original. It was the very first washer 100% designed and built in Brazil.

In other words, Mueller couldn't do much on that model, because every tiny detail they changed made the customers pissed off because that machine is almost a "historical monument"

When mueller had to switch from fiberglass to plastic (PP), a couple of years ago, they used a different strategy... they clearly stated: dear consumer, we know you want fiberglass and wood, but we can't anymore. the environmental laws won't let us make them using those materials. Labor laws won't let our employees deal with fiberglass anymore. So in a few months we will be forced to change it. If you want a Plus made of fiberglass exactly like the vintage ones you have to run and order now. we will stop making them in 6 months. but we promess the modern version will have only the changes that we have to do to comply with the new laws. all the rest will be the same as 60 years ago. We have a deadline and we can't produce not even a single unit after this deadline otherwise we can be fined and the factory can be shut forever, of course we don't want that. so we rented a monster warehouse and we are going to produce fiberglass units 24/7 at full speed for the next 6 months.

Believe it or not, they still receiving "not so polite" emails and calls from customers very angry because they changed the original project of the very first brazilian washer.

My idea of making it automatic and full of bells and whistles may work here in the US. In Brazil would be enough to make people request mueller to burn me alive in a plaza, just like the inquisition years.

 

[thomasortega]

Another idea I just had: a "reuse water" button.

When activated, it will turn of the pump. the washer will follow the whole cycle without draining and refilling and then shut off, allowing the user to remove the clothes and reuse the suds for a second load.

 

[washman]

Well I have to insist

that it be made in a factory with union representation. IBEW in fact.

 

I can't budge on this negotiation point.

 

My father may be gone, but his union spirit lives forever. So in a way, he lives forever.